Loose-leaf binder



J. w. osTRANDER LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed April 29, `193) 2 Sheets-Shed 1 March 25, 1941.

March 25, 1941 J. w. osTANDER 2,236,321

LOOSE -LEAF B INDER Filed April 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES `PixTla/iJT; ore-*Fiche Loo sli-LEAF ummm Joel W. Ostrander, Chicago, Ill. Appliemon April 29, 1939, serial No. 270,854 s claims. (C1. 12s-17) This invention relates to loose-leaf binders, and more particularly rto what is known in the trade as metals for such binders. g The primary object of the invention is to provide a loose-leaf hinder of substantial size hava rigid back-member -to which the' cover members and prong-members may be hingedl and will permit the use of prong-members having; a relatively large radius of curvature. The relatively 'flat curvature of the prong-members ehables .the ledger sheets to -be drawn |by Ithe prongs 1in .close proximity to :the rigid haakt-member when the book is in closed position. f

A further object of .the invention is ft-o provide r opposed sets of overlapping prong-members oi a proper curvature so that when :the prongs aj're moved into overlapping position the divergence between the opposed sets will be kept at a minimum and sufficiently small Ito impale the perforations in the ledger sheets which may be of either lround or oval contour. A further oli-ject of theinvention is to p1ovide `9|, simple Iand improved linkage for moving `the opposed sets of prongs simultaneously and permitting them to be locked in either closed, partiaily opened, orfully opened position. The partially opened position isA particularly useful when it desired to make entries on a sheetfin 'the book without removing the sheet from the binder.

Heretofore, it has not been practical to use a. loose-leaf binder of this :type in the larger sizes, i. e., over 2 inches, and in the large Sizes the arcuate prongs had to be of excessive size and various :cam arrangements were required Ito op'- erate |the prongs so that Ithe rigid back-member could not be used conveniently. The invention is illustrated in ya preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings. in which-l. j y

Figure 1 is a plan view of lt-he mechanism with the covers removed; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View, taken as indicated at line 2 'of Figure 1; Fig-ure 3 is a transverse sectional view,

' Itaken as indicated at line 3 of Figure 1, showing the prongs in closed position; Figure 4 isa View similar rto Figure 3 showing the prongs in ful-ly opened position and .the dotted Ilines indicating the partially opened position; Figure is a frag-- mentary plan View showing the end of the latching bar in unlocked position; Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken as indicated at line 6 of Figlure 1; and Figure 7 is a broken elevational View of :the rotor with its pitm-ans journalled on the upturned end oi the rigid back-member.

In the embodiment illustrated A a rigid metal back-member provided at itsend portions with u'pturned end standards A; B, coversupporting members which are hinged rto the backing-plate A and provide supports Aforpthe arcuate prong-members B; C, link. mechanism, including a rotor C', for moving [the cover-supporting members uniformly towards andai-Way from each other; and D, la locking device for locking the mechanism in la' desired ladjusted position.

The back-member A comprises :a rectangular piece of sheet metal having its end portions struck upwardly to provide the perpendicular standards A upon which the linkage C may be mounted. ,l y

T-he cover-supporting members B may ,also'be m-ade of sheet metal andare hinged =to the back plate, as indicated at 8. The @arcuate prongmemfbers B are permanently and rigidly connecrted to the cover-supporting members B,xas indicated at 9, Iby riveting or ,|anyother suitable manner. The radius of .curvature of the prongs B is 'an extremely important feature of the in- Y vention `and must be carefully apportioned tothe distance between the hinges .8 so that there will be a minimum amount of divergence 'betweenfthe shanks of the opposed prongs 'as they'are moved from the dotted position shown in Figuren to .the

closed position indicated in Figure 3. Altable of preferred sizes is given below. y

Any suitable linkage may be provided to cause the `prongs rto move uniformly from the opened position shown in Figure 44 to the overlapping. i

complementary .position shown in Figure 3. 'I'he linkage C, which is illustrated, comprises a notched wheel l0 which is journalled on al pivot member |l on the standard A :and carniespivots I3 .totorm opposed cranks A vpair of link-sorpitmans |-2 connected 5to the noitchedj wheel, as 1 ind-icatedwat L3, land their opposite ends arepivo 'tallly connected with the cover-'supporting members B,'|as indicated at I4. Thus, it will be understood that if either of the cover-supportingmemi bers is swung outwardly, ,the companion member will move in the opposite direction at the same time and to the same extent. As loose-leaf binders of this type are particularly adapted for use 'in large ledgers, ift is generally preferred yto 'pro- 50 vide duplicate :linkages at each end of the backing-member.

The locking mechanism D comprises ra dat bar I5 provided at one end with a finger piece Ifl which may be :thrust inwardly to release the linkages. A pair of keepers l1 may be struck inwardly from the 'back-member and serve to connne the bar t5. A tension spring `I8 is disposed between one of the keepers and a fastener I9 on the latching bar. A set screw 20 limits the outward travel of the latching bar under the influence of the spring I8. The bar is shown provided at its end portion with cut away portions 21 so .that when the bar `is thrust inwardly, it will not engage the notched wheels I8. If the bar is released, the prongs may be opened .until .the latch slips back into one of the notches provided in the wheels l0 and this prevents further movement of the prong-members. Three notches in the wheels l0 are suiiicient to enable fthe operator :to lock .the device in either `its fully opened position, its partially opened position, or its closed position, as desired. 4

It will be readily understood that each setof prongs may comprise two or more. For the purpose of illustration only two complementary sets have been shown. These prongs are yeach semicircular in cross-section and cooperate to provide a practically round prong. If preferred, a ledger sheet having more than two sets of perforations may be employed and any desired number of prongs can be used. It is not essential that the prongs make slidable engagement with each other as shown in Figure 1. However, if the arrangement illustrated is used, it is desirable to have the prongs in one set engage the extreme outer edge portions of the perforations at both ends of the ledger sheet, and the opposite set of prongs engage the inner edge portions of the same perforation. This arrangement serves to hold the sheets in better alignment.

As indicated above, the arc of curvature of the prong must be carefully worked out for a desired size of binder, so that when the prongs are moved to overlapping relation, there will be a minimum amount of divergence. If proper sizes are employed, the points of the prongs will be in perfect registry when they meet, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4, will move slightly out of vregistration as they are further overlapped, will then again move into perfect registration, and will finally move slightly out of registration, as indicated in Figure 3. By using the proper curves the maximum amount of divergence can be kept .so small as not to interfere with the successful use of the device. In a binder of l-inch size, the divergence will not be over l@ of an inch. In a 4-inch binder, the maximum divergence may be 1/3 inch. Probably the most useful sizes are the 2-inch and 3-inch sizes. The ordinary ring type binders operate satisfactorily in smaller widths.

The following table gives the relative sizes for a number of binders. Figures for intermediate sizes may be worked out readily by laying out to an enlarged scale on a drafting board the desired size of the binder and selecting the radius of curvature which gives the least amount of divergence in any overlapping position of the prongs. The iigures below allow for a distance between the center of the hinge 8 and the center where the prong is attached to the cover-supporting member of of an inch. This Will accommodate ledger sheets with the usual marginal distance between the perforations and the inner edge of the sheet. For ledgers of the following widths it is recommended that the prongs have the radius of curvature as indicated.

Maximum Book divergence ber on the opposite side to a distance equal to the maximum divergence indicated above for each size. For example, the prongs in a 4 inch binder should have their points 1A; of an inch from the cover-supporting member, when the device is 4 closed. If desired, the pins may be tapered longitudinally from a small diameter at their point to a larger diameter at their base. The amount of taper will be sufficient to compensate for the divergence and thus the opposed tapered prongs will remain in alignment in the various overlap positions.I

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A loose-leaf binder comprising: a rigid backmember; two opposed complementary sets of arcuate prong-members hinged to opposite lateral edge portions of said back-member; linking means comprising a notched wheel provided with a pair of opposed cranks which are connected to the sets ofprong-members by means of pitmans so that both sets must move simultaneously from open to overlapped position; and a spring held latch for engaging a selected notch in said wheel and releasably controllingthe degree of opening of said sets of prongs.

2. A device as specied in claim 1, in which the wheel has a notch for locking the sets of prongs in closed position, a notch for locking said sets in opened position, and an intermediate notch for holding the tips of the prongs in partially overlapped position.

3. A loose-leaf binder comprising: a substantially rectangular metal back-member having its integrally formed opposed end portions turned inwardly-to form standards; a pair of cover-supporting members hinged tothe opposite lateral edge' portions of said back member; two sets of complementary arcuate prong-members rigidly fixed'to said cover-supporting members in opposed relation so that the ends of the prong-members of eachsetwill extend into close proximity to the cover-supportingrnember of the companion set, when the prongs are in interleaved closed position; means on each of said standards for linkying the cover-supporting members together so that the prongs of both sets swing uniformly from opened to interleaved position, including a rotor provided ywith at least three locking notches, a

.pair of opposed cranks, and pitmans connecting said cranks to the cover supporting members; and locking means for latching said rotor in a desired position.

JOEL W. OSTRANDER. 

